Spring wheel



P. s. KAPP SPRINGWHEEL Feb. 15, 1944.

'Filed June 19, 1942 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Inventor Ball Beyd fray a By WWWFeb. 15, 1944. p. KApp 2,341,721

SPRING WHEEL Filed June'lQ, 1942 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Inventor EuZByd flap vV In 7.

Artur/19',-

Patented Feb. 15, 1944 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFIQE 1 Claim.

This invention relates to new and useful improvements in wheels which donot depend upon the use of rubber tires.

The principal object of the present invention is to provide a wheeladapted to employ a plastic tread annulus which, in turn, utilizessprings for resiliency.

Another important object of the invention is to provide a wheelstructure which can be economically constructed without depending uponthe use of rubber and be substantially as practical.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent tothe reader of the following description.

Figure 1 represents a fragmentary side elevational view of the wheelwith a portion broken away.

Figure 2I-is artop plan view.

Figure 8 is a top plan view with a portion of v the tire broken away.

Figure 4 is a section on the line 4-4 of Figure 1.

Figure 5 is a perspective view of one of the spring retainers.

Referring to the drawings wherein like numerals designate like parts, itcan be seen in Figure 4, that numeral 5 denotes a hub structure which atclosely spaced intervals is provided with radially disposed studs 6adapted to project into the innermost convolutions of outwardly flaringhelical-shaped springs l.

Numerals 8, 9 denote the outboard and inboard side walls of a wheelstructure which is further made up of annular rim members [0, ll. Theserim members are of channeled construction, the outermost flange portionsthereof being rather like a beaded edge as indicated by a.

Outer channeled circumferential edge portion l3 of the side walls 8, 9are arranged in the channels of the rim members H), H.

Bridging the edge portions of the walls 8, 9 are spring holdersgenerally referred to by numeral M. Each of these spring holderscomprises a U-shaped sheet metal member, the leg portions of whichareturnedjnwardly as at 15 so that they will be clamped between theinner flanges of the rim members H], l I and said edge portions It. Thespring holders M are slotted as at l6 along the top sides andsubstantially down their leg portions and each edge of the top portionhas a depending lug I! for disposition against the outermost convolutionof the corresponding spring I.

Numeral l8 denotes a tire constructed of some suitable plastic materialand preferably having cores IQ of some resilient material. The sideportions of the tire [3 are indented to receive the beaded outer edgeportions a of the rim members H], II and in order to strengthen the tire[8 it is preferable to have circumferentially disposed wire members 20disposed embeddedly in the same. The outermost portion of the tire l8may be marked with treads of any design desired.

Bolts 22 equipped with nuts 23 are disposed through the channeledoutermost portions l3 of the walls 8, 9 and through the rim members H),II. Thus the rim members are secured to the side walls 8, 9, and thespring holders l4 serve to bridge and hold these side walls and rimmembers in definite spaced relation and in clamped position against thetire I8.

It can be seen, that the tire l8 being of some flexible plasticmaterial, will have a tendency to flex inwardly, and in turn, flex theholder I 4, which flexation exerts pressure against the correspondingspring I and also flexes inwardly the side walls 8, 9 of the wheelstructure. In this manner, a resilient action will take place that willsimulate to a considerable extent the action of a pneumatic wheel.

While the foregoing specification sets forth the invention in specificterms, it is to be understood that numerous changes in the shape, sizeand materials may be resorted to without departing from the spirit andscope of the invention as claimed hereinafter.

Having described the invention, what is claimed as new is:

In a wheel structure, a pair of side walls having laterally ofiset outercircumferential edges, a pair of internally channeled clincher ringsopposed to said outer edges, respectively, and surrounding the same, aclincher-type tire interposed between said rings, means securing saidrings to said edges, and tire-supporting members bridging said edges andcircumferentially spaced around the same, said members having rightangled ends interposed between said edges and said rings and clampedbetween the same.

' PAUL BOYD KAPP.

